Things to Do in January

Having read the title, you might be wondering what on earth I’m doing talking about things to do in January, considering what I have said in the past about New Year’s resolutions.

Please be reassured that I haven’t changed my mind! I still think that they are mostly an unpleasant way for us to take on more than we can handle, then beat ourselves up when we don’t manage to stick to them for more than a few weeks, or a few days, or not at all!

However, there is no getting away from the fact that we are now at the beginning of a new year, a year that sounds so far into the future that surely I must be able to climb out of my bedroom window and into a flying car, which will take me to wherever I want to go, instead of having to lug rollerskates and swimming things to stand and shiver at the bus stop.

Although January 1st really is just the next day in the calendar, you might be feeling a little bit like you want to do something. Not anything unrealistically huge that will make you crash and burn, and then feel bad, but maybe something little that feels more like a reset, that you can do if you want to, but if doesn’t matter too much if you don’t.

I want to say at this point that if you really don’t feel like doing anything at all, then please don’t! It is still gloomy and cold, and probably raining, and we won’t really start to notice the days drawing out for at least another month. I believe that it is entirely normal at this time of year to feel tired and want to stay at home and not do very much. We’ll feel better once spring comes round again.

If you do think you might like to mark the new year by doing something that won’t also make you feel bad later, here are some ideas.

See if There is Anything You Can Do to Make Life Nicer for Yourself

We’re often so busy doing things for other people that we forget to take care of ourselves, and to do things for ourselves that make life nicer.

It’s very hard to let go of the idea that making things nicer in a way that we enjoy is somehow selfish. But when we are happy, it’s much easier for us to do the things we need to do for other people willingly and cheerfully.

It doesn’t have to be anything that involves a lot of time or money. Sometimes the simplest things really are best, so here are some ideas.

Eat breakfast by candlelight.

Have a favourite mug, and use it.

Keep some nice hand cream by the sink and in your bag.

Keep a blanket near an armchair for chilly evenings.

Make sure you have things in that you like to eat.

Keep spare socks or tights and a pair of light shoes in your bag for unplanned encounters with puddles.

Take time every day to do something you enjoy, even if it’s only for 15 minutes.

Try to Eradicate Things That Make You Feel Bad as Far as Possible

This could include:

Clothes that don’t fit.

Objects that hold memories you’d rather forget, or at least not be reminded of.

Rolling news and news apps on your phone if it makes you feel anxious.

People, pages and groups on social media that make you feel inadequate or stressed.

If Removing Things That Make You Feel Bad Leaves a Space, Fill it With Good Things

One of the problems with things that make us feel bad is that often they are on our phones, and we automatically reach for them when we are waiting or procrastinating. All to easily we can find ourselves caught up in rants over news articles, other people’s storms in teacups, or despairing over our apparent inability to keep our hair, mess, weight, and lives under control.

So the easiest thing to do is to replace that with something else.

Other people might tell you to leave the phone alone, and although in some ways that is good advice, I don’t think phones are all bad. They are tools, and it’s up to us how we use them.

For a screen free option, you could carry a book about instead (I don’t consider a Kindle a screen!). If you like to read and you are stuck for ideas, I recently read What You Are Looking for is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama and I loved it. It’s quite a gentle read, and quite similar in style to the Furrowed Middlebrow books, which you can find on Amazon.

Otherwise, you could try:

Finding YouTube videos for things you want to learn about.

Learn a language (In some ways Duolingo is awful, but it’s less bad if you ignore the streaks and league tables and turn all the notifications off. There are other language apps as well that have less of that kind of thing.).

Use the chess app to play chess.

Follow people on Substack whose writing you like to read.

Find people on Instagram and Facebook who you find encouraging and inspiring (it’s harder to do on Facebook because it tends to show us things we haven’t signed up for). I like Barry from the Artery, which is an art shop in Banbury, and this chap who makes little people from acorns.

Take a Little Bit of Time Just to Be

If you like to go out for a walk, then try to, not every day if that is too much, but sometimes.

If you have a garden and you like to spend time in it, then do, even if it’s just a few minutes.

If your favourite time of day is the early morning, or last thing at night, then take a moment to enjoy it. Drink a cup of tea slowly and listen to the quiet.

You could take some to watch the birds, or stroke a pet.

If There is Still a Space Where the Christmas Tree Was, Consider How You Could Use It.

The best thing might be to put back what was there.

Or there might be another way to use the space.

You could:

Put your sewing machine there.

Put a large plant in the same spot.

Move an armchair, a side table and lamp and your knitting and claim it as your spot!

Tidy Up Your Sewing or Craft Area

If you don’t have a craft or sewing are, you could have a sort through your fabric and other bits and pieces. You may well find treasures that you had forgotten about, and ideas for things you could make might occur to you while you are having a sort out.

If you have some ideas of your own of things to do in January, and you’d like to share them, I love to know! You can leave a comment below.